Global Buffs Q&A Featuring EA’s Peer Advisors/Graduates
In the midst of a global pandemic, we had the lovely opportunity to catch up with a few of our more recent abroad alumni/CU graduates, who also happen to be former Education Abroad advisors from the 2018-19 school year. We asked them a few questions about their abroad experiences and what they are up to now, a year out from finishing their time at CU. See their answers below!
Isabelle Boes
- When did you study abroad? What was your major and year in school when you went, and how long did you stay abroad?
I studied abroad in
Buenos Aires, Argentina in Spring 2017, which was my sophomore year. I majored in Economics, and minored in Spanish. I also went on the
Discovering Urban China Global Seminar in May 2018.
- What was your favorite part about the program or location in general?
My favorite part of the experience was living in a huge city. Though I lived with a host family, I had a lot of independence and enjoyed learning to navigate by subway and bus and finding so many unique pockets of the city! I also think Argentina is a great location because it is geographically diverse - in one semester I saw the Atlantic and Pacific ocean, and explored deserts, jungles, glaciers, countrysides, and mountains.
- What were your initial motivations to study abroad? Did you always know it was something you wanted? Were any of your abroad goals career-oriented?
Spending a semester abroad was one of my most important goals for my time in college. I always knew it was something I wanted so I made it a priority pretty early on in my college experience. Beyond the personal goal of wanting to leave the US for the first time and challenge myself by being immersed in a new country and culture, I also wanted to improve my Spanish for professional reasons.
I am currently a 1st grade dual language teacher in San Antonio, through Teach For America. I am finishing up my first year teaching and plan to continue next year.
- How did your study abroad experience play a role in or influence your current work/geographical situation?
I do not think I would have my current job had I not studied abroad. As a dual language teacher, I spend about 70% of my work day communicating in Spanish with my students and their parents. I use the academic Spanish I learned and practiced while abroad to translate and create curriculum documents and lessons for my students. Spanish is not my first language and I do not think I would have developed the confidence in speaking and listening without living in a Spanish-speaking country. San Antonio has a really strong sense of pride and community in bilingualism and I enjoy being able to participate in that element of the city. After two years of working primarily using Spanish, I will be able to become a translator or interpreter, which is a career I would not have considered had I hot gone abroad.
- What advice would you give to outbound study abroad students to help them make the most of their experience?
Make conversation with and ask questions to everyone (as long as it is culturally appropriate and you feel comfortable)!! Host parents, professors, taxi drivers, waiters, tour guides, etc. It is a great way to practice or encourage yourself to learn a bit of the language, and you'll learn so much about the city/country.
Jason Habib
- When did you study abroad? What was your major and year in school when you went, and how long did you stay abroad?
I studied abroad in Fall 2018. I was an Economics major in my Junior year. I participated in the
ISA New Zealand University of Otago program in New Zealand, and was there for just under six months.
- What were your initial motivations to study abroad? Did you always know it was something you wanted? Were any of your abroad goals career-oriented?
I had never even thought about studying abroad until the spring of my sophomore year. I mentioned to a family member that I was itching for a change of scenery and they suggested looking into study abroad. Within a few weeks, I had applied and been accepted to my program. It was exciting because it provided me with a way to move away from CU for a while without derailing my four year graduation plan.
I’m living in Telluride, Colorado, and working for the resort here. I plan to return to Denver in the fall to pursue a career in Economics.
- How did your study abroad experience play a role in or influence your current work/geographical situation?
Study abroad helped foster my passion for the outdoors and the environment. Before moving to Telluride, I worked for an energy company, as I am very interested in pursuing a career in environmental or natural resource economics. I took both environmental and natural resource economics classes while abroad, and they definitely spurred my interest in this sector of the field. Though I don't think working in Telluride is a product of my experience abroad, the classes I took abroad without a doubt helped shape my economic emphasis and influenced my senior thesis.
- What advice would you give to outbound study abroad students to help them make the most of their experience?
First off, I'd say to try and push yourself out of your comfort zone. I knew nobody going on my study abroad program, and two of the other CU students I met on my program are now my two closest friends. Choosing a program that seems foreign and perhaps daunting helps you grow and will make your experience so much more valuable.
Second, be open minded and say yes to new experiences. When abroad, take every opportunity that presents itself. If someone asks you to do something, just say yes. It's the best way to meet people and will help you build a strong and diverse network of friends and peers while abroad.
Third, live in the moment. I didn't talk much to my friends in Colorado while abroad. They'll still be there when you get back. Don't get fixated on social media and what you might be missing out on, live in the present and make the most of your short time abroad. I look back on my six months in New Zealand as one of the greatest times in my entire life and I wish I could live it over again.
Haley Chambless
- When did you study abroad? What was your major and year in school when you went, and how long did you stay abroad?
During college, I was lucky enough to be able to study abroad multiple times. I was a business major, and Leeds does a great job making study abroad an option for all students. I had my first experience the summer after my freshman year on an
FGX trip through Leeds to Tokyo, Japan. Then, I spent my full junior year abroad, doing my fall semester in
Barcelona, Spain and my spring semester in
Uppsala, Sweden.
- What was your favorite part about the program or location in general?
In all three places I studied, I found that the people I met were the best part of my experiences. I've made several long-lasting friendships with people from around the world that will always have a special place in my heart.
- What were your initial motivations to study abroad? Did you always know it was something you wanted? Were any of your abroad goals career-oriented?
My dad went to CU and spent his junior year abroad in England. Growing up and hearing his stories about it, I always knew that it was something I wanted to do. My parents were super encouraging and I knew that it would provide me invaluable experience that I could use for a future career and throughout my life, so I made it a priority!
I work in sales at a tech company called Salesforce. Whenever I have free time, you can find me planning my next international trip!
- How did your study abroad experience play a role in or influence your current work/geographical situation?
Part of why I went abroad for a full year was because I felt lost at school. I wasn't super happy with my major, career path, etc. Going abroad opened up my eyes to so many things I had never experienced before and helped me figure out where I wanted to end up. It was while I was abroad that I met a woman who had recently relocated to the Netherlands from the US. She worked at Salesforce and when she told me all about the company, the international opportunities she had, and how much they gave back to the community, I knew I wanted to work there. After meeting her, I spent a year networking and applying for jobs at the company. Right around graduation, a Salesforce office opened in Denver. If I hadn't gone abroad, met that woman, and learned about the company, I'm sure that I wouldn't be working here today. I guess you can say that everything happens for a reason!
- What advice would you give to outbound study abroad students to help them make the most of their experience?
The best advice I can give to future study abroad students is to get out of your comfort zone and take advantage of every opportunity that you have. You will get out what you put into your time abroad. Do that spontaneous weekend trip, practice the local language, make new friends, explore on your own! This is the chance of a lifetime and you will only regret the things that you didn't do.
All I can say is, if you have the means/chance to go abroad TAKE IT!!!
Isabelle Boes
Jason Habib
Haley Chambless
The Global Buffs Gazette: Spring 2020 - News for CU Boulder Education Abroad Alumni
?Last Updated June 2020